Drier.



Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEE 2.

DHIER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.I6,19I7.

E. B. A. ZWOYER.

l VQ jnventor v?? M@ b Attorneys.

Witne' E. B. A. ZWOYER.

APPLCAION HLE) FEB. )5, 9I7. 1,290,009. Patented Dec. 3l, 1918.

4 SHEES-SHE 3.

Inventor ltornf'va.

NNl

E. B. A, ZWOYER.

DRIER.

Mmc/umn ruin f'EB,16,|911.

Pntmn'ed Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS SHEU 4 Witnesses ATENT OFFICE.

ELLSWORTH B. A. ZWOYER, 0F PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.

DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed February 16, 1917. Serial No. 148,935.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that- I, ELLswoR'rr-r B. A. ZwoYER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing. at Perth Amboy, county of Middlesex, and State of NewJersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Driers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to devices for handling briquets composedof a pulverized material, the particles of which are mixed with a liquidor semi-liquid binder and then molded to form under pressure. When thebriquets leave the press they contain considerable moisture which mustbe evaporated in the presence of heat and, on account of the density ofthe briquets, the degree of heat must be high and the articles must Ibesubjected to it for a considerable period of time so that all or nearlyall of the moisture may be driven oif and the briquets be brought to astate of hardness suilicient to enable them to withstand the roughusages incident. to handling and to preserve their form while beingburned or melted as the case may be. After the briquets have beensuiliciently dried they should be cooled to facilitate handling andpermit of storage in bulk.

The objects of my invention are 1. To provide a compact device whereinthe briquet-s may be subjected to the heat for a considerable period oftime.

2. To distribute the briquets in such a manner that. each may besubjected to the effect of the drying medium for the same period of timeto provide for uniformity of drying.

3. To provide against injury of the briquets during the dryingoperation.

4. To lprovide for cooling the briquet-s after drying.

5. T o provide a device wherein all of the operating parts may expandand contract in the same direction and together.

These and further objects will more fully y appear in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings considered together orseparately.

I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in the accompanyingdrawings in which corresponding parts in all of the several figures areindicated by similar reference characters` and in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of the device.'

Fig, 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, the section beingtaken on the line indicated by 2-2 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic development of a portion of thc apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the feeding conveyor',and

Fig. (5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention I provide a single unitary structurewherein the briquets are received from the briqueting press, are dried,then cooled and finally discharged into storage receptacles or intotransportation devices.

The apparatus comprises an inclosed drying chamber 1 and an open coolingframe or rack 2 in axial alinement, the drying chamber being locatedabove the cooling frame. The cham-ber and rac-k are supported on acentral shaft 3 which is supported on antifriction devices, such asballs et carried by a base 5. The shaft 3 is provided with a worm gear 6which meshes with a worm 7 carried on a shaft 8 to which power. may beapplied to rotate the central shaft 3.

The drying chamber comprises a casing of approximately elliptical formconsisting of a side wall 9, top 10 and bottom 11. One end of thechamber 1 is in communication with the chimney 12 of a furnace 13. Acirculating air pipe 14 communicates with the chimney 12 between thefurnace and the drier whereby air will be drawn into the chimney andheated by and'mixed with the products of combustion from the furnace.The opposite end of the chamber 1 is in communication with a stack 15.The products of combustion andlair heated thereby will enter the casingat one end, transverse the easing from end to end andl escape throughthe stack 15.

The central shaft 3 is a hollow cylindrical and function. Each member iscomposed of a cylinder having a perforated bot-tom, a peripheral angeprovided With a series of screw threaded radial perforations and anotched neck 22 which engages the notched recess 21 in the member 16.The upper end of the member 17 has a notched recess 23 similar to therecess 2.1. The upper face of each peripheral iange of each member 17 isprovided With a ball race carrying a range of balls 24.

The topmember 18 of the central shaft has a notched neck 25 whichengages the correspending recess in the uppermost member 17 of theshaft. The member 18 has a peripheral flange having a series of screwthreaded radial perforations and a ball race carrying a range of balls26. The member 18 is provided with a cylindrical axial column in theupper end of which is a range of balls 27. A plate 28 rests upon theballs 27 and is rigidly secured to the top plate 10 of the dryingchamber. A post 29 is seated in the top of the member 16 and extendsupward through perforations in the members 17 and 18 and the plate 28.The upper end of the post is secured to the building in which theapparatus is housed.

The shaft members 17, 18 and 19 when assembled one above y'the other arelocked against relative rotation by the notches in the necks andrecesses and form a shaft which is rotated by the Worm 7 and worm 8. Theballs 27 permit the shaft to rotate Without its rotary movement beingcommunicated to the top 10 of the drying chamber.

Resting upon the balls 19 is a ring 30. Resting upon the balls 24, 24are similar rings 31 and 31l and a similar ring 32 rests upon the balls26. Each of the rings 31, 31 andk 32 carries a range of balls 33, 34 and35 Vsupporting respectively a hub 36, 37 and 38.

The hubs 36 and 37 each carries a range of balls 39 which support a ring40 and 41.1-e- Spectively and each is provided With a series of screwthreaded, radial sockets.

Each of the rings 30, 31, 31a, 32, 40 and 41 is provided With a seriesof radiating arms to which are secured angle beams 42 extending radiallyin pairs. Une pair of beams 42 on each of the rings 30, 31 and 40extends to a greater distance from the center than the others as shownat 43, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Supported o n the tops of the beams 42 of the rings 31, 31a, 32 and 41are two continuous rails 44 and 45. These rails are shown as straightSections of T beams extending from one pair of beams 42 to the next pairbut it is obvious that the rails may be of other form.

The spider frames built up of the rings and beams 42 are equal indiameter` t0 the inside of the lesser diameter of the drying chamberexcept as noted. Certain of the beams -within the drying chamber aresecured to angle beams 50 which in turn are connected to the side Wall9.

The beams of the ring 40 instead of being provided with rails carry thebottom 11 of the chamber which is also secured to the side Wall 9. rThebeams of the ring 30 instead of rails 44 and 45 support the circularbottom 51 of the cooling rack.

rl`he beams 42 carried by the rings 40 sup port the bottom 11 of thedrying chamber Which in turn is secured to the lower edge of the wall 9of the casing. Certain of the beams 42 carried by the rings 31a, 41 and32 are secured to the Wall 9 by means of the angle beams 50. The casingis, therefore, supported on the rotary central shaft 3.

The extensions 43 to the beams 42 of the rings 30, 31 and 40 engage aspud 5a carried by the base 5 and prevent rotation of the ringsmentioned and of the drying chamber.

Screwed into certain of the threaded sockets in the peripheral flangesof the members 17 and 18 and into the sockets in the hubs 36, 37 and 38are spoke rods 46 which extend radially from the center of the shaft 3.The ends of the rods support a ring 47 which is, in effect, the tire ofa Wheel of which the rods 46 are the spokes and the member 17 or 18 orthe hub 36, 37 or 38 is the hule. The tires are secured in place on therods by means of nuts. A second ring 48 is carried by the spokes and isretained in position by means of sleeves 49 which surround the rods oneither side of the ring.

Supplemental rods 52 screwed into sockets in the shaft members and hubsextend from the hubs to the ring 48 and additional short rods 53 arecarried in the rings 47 and 48. The rods 52 and 53 are surrounded bysleeves Which act as spacers for the rings.

Each rod 46 has hinged thereto tivo leaves 54 and 55. Each rod 52carries a leaf similar to the leaf 54 and each rod 53 supports a leafsimilar to 55. The leaves on alternate tiers of spokes and rods aredisposed on opvposite sides of their supporting rods so that as thetiers are rotated in opposite directions the leaves vvill be draggedaround by the rods. Each leaf is `of segmental shape and, when inhorizontal position, incloses the space between its supporting rod andthe next adjoining rod. The free radial edge of each leaf is providedwith a. runner 56 which supports that edge of the leaf on the rail 44,45 or bottom 11 or 51, as the case may be, and holds the leaf in itshorizontal position so that each tier forms a circular floor.

Each rail 44 and 45 has a depressed portion 57 for the purpose ofallowing the free edge of each leaf to swing downward when it reachesthe depressed portioinas shown in Fig. 4. The bottom members 11 and 51have depressed portions 58 to permit the leaves riding over them toswing downward. The depressed portions 58 form chutes. The runners onthe leaves coacting with the members 11 and 51 are in the form of bladeswhich scrape the bottoms and remove any dirt or dust which may fall uponthem.

The tire ring 47 carried by each hub 36, 37 and 38 is provided with acircular, toothed rack 59 and these racks are in mesh with pinions 60 ona shaft 61 which is gea-red to the drive shaft 8. The speed of the shaft61 is such that the racks 59 are driven at the same speed as that of thecentral shaft 3 butin the opposite direction.

The chimney l2 enters the bottom of the drying chamber and its contentsare discharged into a crescent shaped space which partially surroundsthe rotating floors and the direct heat from the chimney is presentedfrom coming in contact with the floors and the briquets carried thereonby a baffling screen 62 of heat resisting material such as iirebrick.

Opposite each rotating floor the drying chamber is connected to thestack 15 b y means of a flue 63. Each fine is provided with a damper 64,the position of which is controlled by a thermostatic device 65 so thatthe desired temperature of the drying chamber may be automaticallymaintained.

The engagement of the extensions 43 on the beams of the hubs 30 and 31with the spud 5a prevents rotation of the parts carried by those hubsand the engagement of the extensions of the beams of the hub 410 whichcarry the bottom of the drying chamber prevent rotation of the chamber.The beams of the hubs above the bottom of the chamber being secured tothe walls of the chamber are likewise prevented from rotating.

The briquets are fed to the uppermost tier of floor leaves by means of ascraper conveyer 66 working in trough 67 which enters the drying chambernear the top and to one side of the shaft 3. The floor of the trough iscut away so as to form an angular opening 68, the narrower part of whichis over the inner part of the flo-or, where the speed is slowest, andgradually widens toward the outer periphery of the floor where the speedis greatest. The briquets are dragged along the floor of the trough andare deposited on the uppermost rotating Hoor through the wedge shapedopening in Ia. single layer so that each` individual briquet will bebrought into Contact with the drying gases.

' As the uppermost oor rotates in the directioncf the arrow A Fig. 2,the briquets will .be-carried around to the point IB. When each leafreaches this point its free edge will drop, by reason of the depression57 in the track immediately below .it and the briquets carried therebywill be deposited in a single layer on the floor next below which,'byreason of the fact that it is carried by and rotates with the centralshaft, is traveling in the direction of the arrow C Fig. 2.

lVhen the briquets on the second floor have been carried through acomplete rotation of the iioor they are deposited on the neXt lowerfloor, which travels in the same direction as the first floor, in thesame manner. This operation is continued until the briquets reach thelowermost floor of the drier. When each leaf of the lower floor reachesthe depressed portion 58 of the bottom 11 of the drier it swingsdownward and deposits its load of briquets on the uppermost rotatingfloor of the cooling rack when the operation above described isrepeated. Then the briquets reach the depressed portion 58 of the bottom15 they are discharged onto a conveyer 69 by means of which they aredelivered to the desired point By reason of the fact that the entireapparatus including the casing for the drier and the cooler aresupported on the central shaft 16 the device will expand and contract asa unit and the relative positions of the floors and tracks will alwaysremain the same. The connection between the bottom of the drying chamberandthe chimney 12 is non-rigid whereby the chamber may move relativelyto the chimney The flexibility of the tlnes 63 will permit of slightvertical movement of body of the apparatus due to expansion andcontraction.

The sectional central shaft 3 reduces the cost of manufacture andtransportation, facilitates assembling and dismantling of the device,provides for increasing or reducing the capacity of the apparatus andfor ease of inspection and repair.

The post 29 is employed primarily to center, the sections of the deviceduring inspection or repair. .As many sections as desired may be raisedwithout disengaging the upper end of the post and be lowered in placewithout trouble.

lVliile I have described my invention for use in drying and coolingbriquets I desire to have it understood that the apparatus may bcemployed for drying, roasting or baking generally.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I havedescribed the prin-V ciple of my invention, together with the apparatuswhich I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, butIdesire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merelyillustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

I-Iaving now described my invention what I claim as new `and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An apparatus of theI character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying' heat to the chamber, a rotating sectional floorWithin the chamber, and means for depositing briquets or the like in athin layer on the floor.

2. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a rotating Isectional iioorWithin the chamber, means for depositing briquets or the like in a thinlayer on the floor, and means for automatically regulating the heat inthe chamber.

3. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a sectional floor Within thechamber, means for rotating` the floor, a second iioor, means forrotating the second floor, means for depositing briquets or the like onthe iirst floor in a thin, even layer, and means for transferring thesamein a thin, even layer from the first to the second floor.

An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a floor Within the chamber,means for rotating the floor, a second floor, means for rotating thesecond floor in the direction opposite to that of the iirst floor, meansfor distributingbriquets or the like to the first floor, and means fortransferring the same from the first to the second floor.

5. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a sectional floor Within thechamber, means for rotating the door, a second floor below the firstlicor, means for rotating the second floor, means for depositingbriquets or the like on the iirst floor in a thin, even layer and meansfor transferring the same in a thin, even layer from the .first to thesecond floor.

6. An apparatus of the character de-A scribed, having an inclosedchamber, means for supplying heat to the chamber, a floor Within thechamber, means for rotating the floor, a second floor below the firstfloor, means for rotating the second ioor in the direction opposite tothat of the first floor, means for distributing briquets or the like tothe first floor, and means for transferring the same from the lirst tothe second floor.

7 An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a sectional iioor Within thechamber, means for rotating the floor, a second iioor, means forrotating the second floor, means for depositing briquets or the like ina thin layer on the first Hoor, means for transferring the same in athin, even layer from the first to the second floor, and means forautomatically regulating the heat in the chamber.

8. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a rotating sectional floorWithin the chamber, means for distributing briquets or the like in athin layer to the floor, a rotating floor outside of the chamber, andmeans for transferring the briquets from the chamber in a thin layer tothe last mentioned floor.

9. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a floor Within the chamber,means for rotating the floor, a second iioor, means for rotating thesecond floor, means for distributing briquets or the like to the lirstdoor, means for transferring the same from the first to the secondfloor, a plurality of iioors outside of the chamber, said floorsrotating in opposite directions, and means for transferring the briquetsfrom the chamber to the adjoining outside floor.

10. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a rotating floor Within thechamber, means for distributing` briquets or the like in a thin layer tothe ioor, and a common rotary support for the chamber and floor.

ll. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a door Within the chamber,means for rotating the floor, a second Hoor, means for rotating thesecond Hoor, means for distributing briquets or the like to the firstdoor, means for transferring the same from the first to the secondlicor, and a common rotary support for the chamber and floors.

l2. An apparatus of the character described, having an inclosed chamber,means for supplying heat to the chamber, a rotating floor Within thechamber, means for distributing' briquets or the like in a thin layer tothe floor, a rotating floor outside of the chamber, means fortransferring the briquets from the chamber to the last mentioned ioor,and a common support for the cham-V ber and the iioors.

13. An apparatus of the character den scribed, having an inclosedchamber, means for supplying heat to the chamber, a floor Within thechamber, means for rotating the floor, a second floor, means forrotating the second floor, means for distributinp1 briquets or the liketo the first iioor, means for trans ferring the same from the first tothe second door, a plurality of floors outside of the chamber, saidfloors rotating in opposite directions, means for transferring thebriquets from the chamber to the adjoining outside floor, and a commonsupport for the chamber and the ioors.

14. An apparatus of the character ,described, having a rotatable shaft,a chamber supported on the shaft, connections between the shaft andchamber to permit relative rotation of the shaft and chamber, a floorsupported by the shaft and rotating therewith,

`and means for delivering briquets to the v ioor.

15. A n apparatus of the character described, having a rotatable shaft,a chamber supported on the shaft, connections between the shaft andchamber to permit relative rotation of the shaft and chamber, a floorwithin the chamber, said floor being supported by the shaft and rotatingtherewith, and means for delivering briquets to the floor.

16. An apparatus of the character described, having a suitable shaft, achamber supported von the shaft, connections between the shaft andchamber to permit relative rotation of the shaft and chamber, a floorsupported by the shaft and rotating therewith, Aa second Hoor supportedby the shaft, means for rotating the same in the direction opposite tothat of the first ioor, and means for delivering briquets to the firstfloor.

17. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotatable shaft, astationary track supported by the shaft, a floor carried by androtatable with the shaft, said floor engaging and being supported by thetrack.

18. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotatable shaft, a{ioor carried by the shaft, connections permitting relative rotation ofthe shaft and floor, a track carried on the shaft, connectionspermitting relative rotation of the shaft and track, said floor engagingand being supported on the track, means for preventing rotation of thetrack, a second floor carried 40 by and rotatable With the shaft, meansfor rotating the first mentioned floor in the direction opposite to thatof the shaft, means for delivering briquets to the first floor and meansfor transferring the briquets from the first to the last mentionedfloor.

19. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotatable shaft, afloor carried by the shaft, connections permitting relative rotation ofthe shaft and floor, a track carried on the shaft, connectionspermitting relative rotation of the shaft and track, said floor engagingand being supported on the track, means for preventing rotation of thetrack, a second floor carried by and rotatable with the shaft, means forrotating the first mentioned floor in the direction opposite to that ofthe shaft, means for delivering briquets to the first floor, means fortransferring the briquets from the first to the last mentioned floor,and means for heating the briquets on the floors.

20. An apparatus of the character described, having a plurality ofsuperposed, rotatable floors with alternate floors rotating in oppositedirections, means for feeding briquets to the top floor, and means fortransferring the briquets to the other floors in succession.

21.`An apparatus of the character described, having an elementcomprising movable segmental members, means for supportingthe members inalinement to form a iioor or platform, and means permitting movement ofthe members to interrupt the continuity of the floor, the continuity ofthe members being uninterrupted.

22. An apparatus of the character described, having an elementcomprising movable segmental members, means for supportingl the membersin alinement to form a floor or platform, and means permittingindependent movement of the members to interrupt the continuity of thefloor, the continuity of the members being uninterrupted.

2 3. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotating elementcomprising movable segmental members, means for supporting the membersin alinement to f orm a floor or platform, and means permitting movementof the members to interrupt the continuity of the floor, the continuityof the members being uninterrupted.'

24. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotating elementcomprising movable segmental members, means for supporting the membersin alinement to form a Hoor or platform, and means permittingindependent movement of the members to interrupt the continuity of thefloor, the continuity of the members being uninterrupted. A

25. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotating elementcomprising radial shafts, segmental wings pivoted to the shafts, meansfor supporting the free edges of the wings in alinement to form a flooror platform, there being an interruption in the supporting means wherebythe leaves may turn on the shafts and interrupt the continuity of thefloor.

26. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotating elementcomprising radial shafts, segmental wings pivoted to the shafts, a trackfor supporting the free edges of the wings in alinement to form a' flooror platform, there being a depression in the track whereby the leavesmay turn on the shafts and interrupt the continuity of the floor.

27. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotatable shaft,said shaft being composed of interlocking, axially super-posed sections,floors or platforms carried by the sections and rotatable with theshaft, floors or platforms supported bv the sections, said floors beingrotatable in the direction opposite to that of the shaft, and meanscarried by the sections for supporting the floors, said means beingstationary.

28. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotatable shaft,said shaft being composed of interlocking, axially superposed sections,floors or platforms carried by the sections and rotatable With theshaft, floors or platforms supported by the sections, said floors beingrotatable in the direction opposite to that of the shaft, means carriedby the-sections for supporting the floors, and means independent of theshaft for preventing rotation ofthe supporting means.

29. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotatable,vertical shaft, a

series of vertically superposed, horizontal segmental floors orplatforms carried by and rotatable with the shaft, a series ofvertically superposed horizontal segmental floors or platformsalternately disposed relatively to the first mentioned iioors andcarried by the shaft and rotatable in the direction opposite to that ofthe shaft, stationary tracks carried by the shaft, said tracks engagingthe segments of the floors to retain them in horizontal alinement,therebeing a portion of each track depressed Whereby the segment abovesuch depression Will assume an inclined position and interrupt thecontinuity of the ioor or platform.

30. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotary floor, anon-rotating casing surrounding the floor, and asingle, rotary supportfor the floor and casing.

31. An apparatus of the character described, having a plurality ofrotary floors, a non-rotating` casing surrounding the floors, and asingle support for the floors and casing.

34. An apparatus of the character described, having avrotary floor, astationary casing surrounding the floor, and a single rotary support forthe loor and casing.

35. An apparatus of the character described, having a rotary floor, astationary casing surrounding the floor, a single rotary support for thefloor and casing, and means for permitting relative movement of thecasing and support.

36. An apparatus of the character described, having a plurality ofrotary floors, a casing surrounding the ioors, and a single rotarysupport for the floors. and casing.

37. An apparatus of the character described, having a plurality ofrotary floors, a stationary casing surrounding the floors, and a singlerotary support for the floors and casing.

38. An apparatus 0f the character de- Y scribed, having a plurality 0ffloors, a casing surrounding the iioors, a single, rotary membersupporting the floors and casing, said floors rotating` With the member,a plurality of floors, means for rotating the latter floors in thedirection opposite t0 that of the member, and means for preventingrotation of the casing.

39. An apparatus of the character described, having a plurality offloors each composed 0f pivoted elements, a easing surrounding theiioors, a track for engaging the elements of each iioor, a single,rotary member supporting the iioors, tracks and casing, said floorsrotating with the member, a plurality 0f floors, each composed ofpivoted elements, supported on the member, tracks engaging the elements,means for vrotating the latter floors in the direction opposite to thatof the member, and means vfor pres venting rotation of the casing andtracks.

This specification signed and witnessed this fourteenth day of February,1917.

ELLSWORTH B. A. ZWOYER.

Witnesses:

A. E. BENTON, J. G. McDnRMo'r'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,V Washington, D. G.

